A Fractional Brand Design Expert for Octa Nutrition

Why Octa Nutrition Chose Fractional Design Expertise for Their Brand Launch

TL;DR Octa Nutrition, a new performance nutrition brand built by combat sports practitioners, needed complete brand development from logo to packaging design on a tight timeline for their January launch. They required someone who could understand both the supplement industry's competitive landscape and translate their practitioner-focused positioning into visual identity. Storetasker matched them with Nancy Poller, a brand designer with expertise in consumer packaged goods and e-commerce. What started as a delayed project due to manufacturing issues became an intensive collaboration building a complete brand system across multiple product lines.

About the Client

Octa Nutrition is a performance nutrition startup founded by a Jiu Jitsu professor, a Clinical Pharmacist, and a former kickboxing/Muay Thai coach. Their products target combat sports athletes, strength trainers, and endurance athletes who value science-backed formulas and clean ingredients. Planning to launch across physical retail and direct-to-consumer channels, they needed brand development that could work across multiple touchpoints.

The Core Tension

Octa needed complete brand development on an accelerated timeline but lacked the in-house design expertise to execute across packaging, digital assets, and brand guidelines.

Why in-house wasn't an option: As a startup pre-launch, Octa couldn't justify hiring a full-time brand designer. Their immediate need was concentrated around the launch period, requiring intensive work on identity, packaging, and foundational assets. After launch, design needs would shift to maintenance and iteration rather than constant full-time capacity.

Why agencies presented challenges: Traditional branding agencies would have delivered the work but at premium pricing with slower timelines. For a startup managing cash carefully and facing manufacturing delays already compressing their schedule, agency overhead and rigid processes weren't a fit. They needed flexibility to adjust as product details and regulatory requirements evolved.

What was at risk: Without proper brand development, Octa would either miss their January launch window or go to market with inadequate packaging and brand presence. In the competitive supplement space where visual identity drives shelf presence and perceived quality, launching with weak branding could undermine their positioning and make retailer conversations harder.

The Storetasker Solution

Storetasker matched Octa with Nancy Poller of Aligned Design, a brand designer with extensive experience in consumer packaged goods, packaging design, and understanding supplement industry requirements. Nancy's collaborative approach and willingness to work within tight timelines made her the right partner for Octa's intensive brand development needs.

The Work

Brand Identity Development

• Created comprehensive brand mood boards exploring visual direction and competitive positioning
• Developed logo system with custom wordmark and icon (the "8" representing consistency and infinite progress)
• Built complete brand guidelines covering color systems, typography, and photography direction
• Designed scalable visual system accommodating multiple product lines and future expansion

Packaging Design

• Designed label systems for three initial products (Pre-Workout, Intra-Fuel, Creatine) across different container formats
• Coordinated with manufacturer on technical specifications, label dimensions, and printing capabilities
• Implemented flavour differentiation system supporting future SKU expansion
• Integrated regulatory requirements including supplement facts panels, warnings, and compliance elements
• Incorporated trademarked ingredient logos and certification badges strategically
• Designed custom icons highlighting product benefits and properties

Brand Guidelines & Assets

• Created comprehensive brand book documenting logo usage, color systems, and typography
• Developed social media profile and page graphics for launch
• Built a branded Klaviyo template for email marketing
• Visualised the brand concept across print and digital roll-out like OOH advertising, merchandise and Instagram
• Provided brand assets in formats ready for immediate use across digital and print
• Coordinated with web developer on landing page design direction

Client Collaboration

• Navigated manufacturing delays and reformulation affecting timeline
• Accommodated evolving product details and regulatory requirements throughout process
• Provided design rationale through recorded walkthroughs explaining strategic choices
• Iteratively refined designs based on founder feedback across multiple stakeholder perspectives
• Worked directly with printer to ensure production feasibility of gradient neons and special finishes

Results & Impact

• Delivered complete brand identity system supporting multi-channel launch (DTC, retail, Amazon, TikTok)
• Built scalable packaging design system accommodating 10-15 planned products with multiple flavours each
• Created distinctive visual identity differentiating Octa in crowded supplement marketplace
• Established foundation for consistent brand execution across packaging, digital, apparel, and retail environments
• Enabled launch timeline despite compressed schedule from manufacturing setbacks
• Positioned brand for retailer conversations and athlete partnership opportunities

"Literally couldn't wish for a better partner for our project. If you think of any aspect of brand development and design, Nancy delivered over and beyond. The best part of doing this project with Nancy (aside from an immaculate birth of our brand) was her level of understanding of what we wanted and her execution of the design. We would absolutely recommend Nancy to anyone who is looking for a real vested partner in their brand development journey. Thank you Nancy."

‍— Ali Taghinejad, Octa Nutrition
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Why Storetasker

Specialized brand expertise without agency overhead is the unlock for startups launching into competitive markets, especially when timelines compress and brand execution directly impacts market positioning. Most startups can't justify full-time senior designers before launch, but they need expert support building foundational brand systems that scale beyond initial products.

Ready to build your brand without agency pricing? Explore how Storetasker can connect you with the design expertise your business needs.